Why does your UGREEN NAS have an HDMI port?

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Cloud storage is a convenient method for downloading videos, photos, audio, and many other file types. The problem is that if you need more than 5-10 GB, you’ll probably end up paying a monthly subscription. This is why many people prefer to use a network attached storage (NAS) device, and UGREEN is one of the many brands that manufacture these contraptions. Simply connect it to your router, download the app, and enjoy remote access to your media library (SSD required sold separately).

UGREEN offers several NAS configurations, and all include an HDMI port supporting up to 4K/60Hz. “That’s great, but why would a NAS device need an HDMI port?” you may be wondering, because a NAS is a storage device that allows you to create your own makeshift cloud storage. UGREEN doesn’t offer much explanation about the port, but the HDMI port has a few functions.

One of these HDMI features is the ability to stream media through the UGREEN NAS app to an external display (e.g. TV, projector, monitor). When streaming to your TV, the NAS supports direct video playback via most encoding formats, including H.264/H.265 containers. When you select the HDMI input your NAS is connected to, you will find streaming instructions for the UGREEN app, as this is the only way to initiate playback (no NAS device comes with a standard remote control).

Similar to a wireless router, you can connect to your UGREEN NAS settings by entering the device’s IP address into a web browser (many of these same settings can also be found in the UGREEN app). That said, you will also be able to use the HDMI output to access the device’s BIOS. A Reddit user saw someone else using the port to update the SSD’s firmware; they connected the NAS to a monitor and booted into BIOS to transmit video to the external display.

You will also need BIOS access for other customizations of the UGREEN NAS, such as installing a third-party operating system. To do this, the BIOS watchdog must first be disabled; This way, your NAS will not automatically restart when its built-in operating system is not detected. Heed my warning, though: if you’re not 100% comfortable with immersing yourself in these deeper settings, don’t do it. A poorly managed BIOS could render your NAS completely useless.

This covers everything related to HDMI on UGREEN NAS technology. Hopefully the company becomes a little more transparent about the port’s functionality in the future, because when you see “4K/60Hz,” your initial assumption would be that HDMI offers a full user interface when plugged into a display. Instead, UGREEN relegates playback controls to whatever device your UGREEN NAS app is installed on.